Monarchs

Ancient Welsh kings ruled Mann from the 5th to the 9th century, whereas James Stuart, 7th Earl of Derby, became lord of Mann in the 1600s.

Anaraud Gwalchcrwn

Title: King of Ynys Manaw
Born: c. 650

Son of Mermin Mawr, Anaraud ('Anarawd' in Welsh, 'Anarod' in
English and 'Anarodus' in Latin) supposedly inherited his throne in
AD 682. Very little is known of his reign other than that he was
succeeded by his son Tutgual.

Anllech

Title: King of Ynys Manaw
Born: c. 590

Anllech ('Anllach' in Welsh, 'Anleck' in English and 'Anlacus' in
Latin) was the son of King Tutgual and the great grandson of King
Neithon - who established an independent monarchy on
Man.

During his reign, a war occurred between King Cadwallon of Gwynedd
and Edwin of Northumbria into which Anllech's island kingdom was
drawn.

In AD 626, Edwin's army occupied the Island and made it a staging
post for the invasion of Anglesey. The occupation ended with
Edwin's death seven years on, and Anllech was reinstated as king.
On his death, the throne passed to his son Cynin.

Guriat

Title: King of Ynys Manaw
Born: c. 750

Guriat ('Gwriad' in Welsh, 'Guriatus' in Latin) succeeded King
Elidyr map Sandde.
His best-known memorial on the Island is the famous Crux Guriat
(Guriat Cross).

Guriat married Esyllt, daughter and heiress of King Cynan
Dindaethwy of Gwynedd.

He was succeeded by his son Merfyn Frych ('the Freckled').

Iudgual

Title: King of Ynys Manaw
Born: c. 690

Iudgual ('Idwal' in Welsh, 'Idovellaunus' in Latin and 'Judwald' in
English) was the son of King Tutgual map Anaraud.

Iudgual was the last Island king from the house of Ceretic
Guletic, and his failure to produce an heir resulted in the
throne passing to his sister Celemion and her husband, Prince
Sandde of South Rheghed.

Mermin Mawr ('the Great')

Title: King of Ynys Manaw
Born: c.630

Mermin ('Merfyn' in Welsh, 'Mervin' in English and 'Marbinus' in
Latin) succeeded his father Cynin as King.

He was considered a particularly significant monarch on account of
his powerful navy, which carried out raids on the Ulster and
Leinster coasts.

The Annals of Ulster give the date of his death as AD 683.

Neithon

Title: King of Ynys Manaw
Born: c.530

Neithon ('Nudd' in Welsh, 'Nathan' in English and 'Natanus' in
Latin) was the son of King Senyllt.

The loss of Galloway to King Urien of North Rheged meant that
Neithon was the first king of an independent Isle of Man.

His son Rhun eventually succeeded him.

Sandde

Title: King of Ynys Manaw
Born: c. 690

Sandde ('Sant' in English, 'Xanthus' in Latin) was a great grandson
of King Llywarch Hen and heir to the lost kingdom of South
Rheged.

When his wife Celemion inherited Ynys Manaw in the late
8th Century, the family transferred from Powys.

He ruled in his wife's stead and was succeeded by their son
Elidyr.

Senyllt mab Dingat

Title: King of Galloway & Ynys Manaw
Born: c. 510

Senyllt ('Senild' in English, 'Seniltus' in Latin) was the grandson
of King Tutgual.

It was during his reign, roughly around AD 550, that the Kings of
Galloway were expelled from their mainland territory by the North
Rhegedians under King Urien.

The defeated dynasty retreated to the Isle of Man, where it is
thought they continued to thrive for generations.

Tutgual

Title: King of Galloway
Born: c. 467

Also known by the alternative names of 'Tudwal' (Welsh), Theowald
(English) and Theodovellaunus (Latin), Tutgual was born circa AD
467.

As with many details regarding these early monarchs, the lineage of
Tutgual is not entirely clear.

He was thought to have inherited a small share of the kingdom of
Strathclyde from his father Cinuit, but it was his brother
Dumnagual Hen ('the Old') who bore the title King of
Strathclyde.

Tutgual was a pagan king who, according to the 'Life of St Ninian'
by Aelred of Rievaulx, records that Tutgual opposed the settlement
of the saint at Whithorn.

He was succeeded by his son, Dingat.

James Stuart, 7th Earl of Derby

Title: Lord of Mann
Born: 1607

Raised in Knowsley, he became Lord of Man in 1627 following
the retirement of his father from most public offices.

Of all the Stanleys, the Isle of Man played the greatest part
in James' life - he was a staunch defender of the
Royalist cause and resided in the Island in 1643 to preserve
it as a stronghold.

James married Charlotte de Tremoille, by whom he had six children.
She became famous as the successful defender of Lathom during an
extended Parliamentary siege.

However his life was condemned by a Parliamentary Court Martial,
and James was killed on the block at Bolton.